Overview
NFC, near-field communication, has been widely deployed. It is integrated into payment cards, ticketing, and similar systems to enable fast and simple transactions.
NFC is also used in many other areas that require short-range secure communication, and it can be integrated into mobile phones and other devices.
NFC is being incorporated into many new applications. Its short range is a key factor in its operation and security. Operating only over a short distance provides an inherent level of security.
NFC is a contactless technology, so no physical electrical contact is required. This eliminates issues related to poor contact that can occur when cards or devices are inserted into readers.
What Is NFC?
NFC is a standards-based technology for short-range wireless connections that enables secure two-way interactions between electronic devices. Communication can be established simply, without the user configuration required by many other wireless technologies. NFC enables non-contact transactions, access to digital content, and device pairing by bringing devices into close proximity.
NFC provides contactless communication over a maximum distance of approximately 4 or 5 cm. In this way, communication is inherently more secure because devices typically communicate only when brought together intentionally.
Because NFC does not use a physical connector, connections are more reliable and do not suffer contact wear, corrosion, or contamination issues associated with physical connectors.
NFC uses inductive coupling at 13.56 MHz, which is an unlicensed allocation in the HF portion of the radio spectrum.
NFC is a form of RFID but is governed by a specific set of standards that define operation, interfaces, and so on. This ensures that NFC devices and components from different manufacturers can interoperate. The NFC standards define the contactless operating environment as well as data formats and data rates.
Applications
NFC evolved from a combination of contactless identification and interconnection technologies, including RFID. It enables very simple connections over a few centimeters. By bringing two electronic devices close together, they can communicate, simplifying identification and security tasks and making information exchange easier. NFC is expected to avoid the complex setup procedures required by some longer-range technologies.
Common NFC applications include:
- Payment cards
- Ticketing
- Mobile phones and PDAs
- Point-of-sale terminals
- Turnstiles
- Vending machines
- Parking meters
- ATMs
- Office and home access control, such as garage doors
Another proposed use is using NFC to configure a link between two wireless devices. To configure them for wireless operation, simply bring them together to establish an NFC link. This would start a setup process that can use the NFC interface to configure a longer-range wireless system such as Bluetooth, 802.11, or other relevant standards. Once configured, the devices can operate over the longer range supported by the secondary communication system.
NFC is well suited to provide a bridge to contactless smart card technologies used in ticketing and payment. It is generally compatible with existing standards, so NFC-capable devices are likely to be usable in these contexts as well.
NFC also supports many other applications, such as general data transfer from digital cameras or mobile phones, and any other short-range data communication required between two devices.
How NFC Differs from Other Wireless Technologies
NFC differs from other wireless technologies both in the underlying techniques and in the intended applications.
Bluetooth: While both Bluetooth and NFC can be used for data transfer, Bluetooth is designed for longer-range communication. NFC is designed for close proximity only.
Wi-Fi / IEEE 802.11: Wi-Fi is intended for local area networking and is not a short-range point-to-point technology.
RFID: RFID is similar to NFC in many respects but is a broader technology. NFC is a specific case defined by standards to ensure interoperability.
NFC relies on near-field electromagnetic coupling and is based on the fact that communication range is intentionally limited. This limitation is a key factor in its success and distinguishes it from other forms of wireless communication.
